Motorist Seriously Injured By Amtrak at Dangerous, Unguarded Crossing
(Soledad, California – October 25, 2011)
A 65-year-old motorist, driving his Dodge van for his business, was struck and seriously injured by an Amtrak passenger train at a private, rural, dangerous, unguarded Union Pacific Railroad crossing near Soledad, CA about 2:20 P.M. Tuesday afternoon.
Santiago Ramirez of Salinas, CA was driving on a private road when he failed to see the Los Angeles-bound Amtrak train traveling between 50 and 60 mph with 155 passengers on board. The victim’s van was struck on the passenger side and was a total loss.
He was airlifted by helicopter to the San Jose Regional Medical Center, where his condition was upgraded to good late Wednesday. California Highway Patrol troopers offered the speculation that “It is not believed that alcohol or drugs played a role in this collision.”
